KT chosen to supply an integrated emergency network in Korea

Korea's dominant fixed-line operator said it has won the 25.2 billion won ($21 million) bid from the Ministry of Public Safety and Security. KT will build the integrated management system, merging 21 emergency hotlines from 15 government agencies into three ― 112, 119 and 110 ― to cut emergency response times.

The move is expected to boost the company's presence as the nation's leading safety network system provider. Last year, the safety ministry picked KT to build a national disaster prevention network. Under the contract, KT provides the Public Safety Long-Term Evolution (PS-LTE)-based communications network system in Pyeongchang, the host city of 2018 Winter Olympics.

"The safety ministry has been aggressive in building an integrated safety network system after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014," a KT official said. "We expect foreign companies to adopt our advanced safety network platforms."

Company vice president Lee Moon-hwan said, "The bid will allow KT to take the initiative as the nation's leading public safety network operator. We will continue to win more contracts regarding public safety networks, and be more responsible for the public's safety."

KT Chairman Hwang Chang-kyu has pushed for the integrated security system as one of its next-generation growth areas. The KT chief is expected to unveil blueprints for its global expansion strategy in the sector at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 next month.